I first met Riley when I asked her to be my date to my fraternity date party. We had a ton of mutual friends, and I already knew she was beautiful, but we had never actually talked before. Before the date party, we went to get ice cream on a double date with two other friends who were meeting for the first time too, and it was painfully awkward. The whole time it felt like nobody knew what to say, and it had me wondering how the rest of the night was going to go. But once we got to the date party, Riley completely changed the vibe. She was the best date I could’ve asked for. She was out there dancing, having fun, making the night easy, and just being herself. After that, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It wasn’t even a question, I knew I needed to take her on a real date as soon as possible. So even though I was nervous, I texted her and asked if I could take her to one of my favorite places, Jack Brown’s Burgers. She said yes, and I picked her up and we went. I don’t remember every detail about that first date, but I remember it being simple and fun and easy. Also, she got a burger with no bun, which still makes me laugh and is very on brand for Riley. A few months into dating, I started realizing Riley was different. The biggest thing was her faith. She loved Jesus first, and it wasn’t just something she said, it was obvious in how she lived and how she treated people. She also loved me really well, and her heart for others has always stood out. Riley is faithful, loving, and strong, and being with her made me feel grounded in a way I didn’t even know I needed. The funniest part is Riley says we actually crossed paths before any of this. When I was pledging my fraternity, I was working the door as a bouncer for a Halloween party and I tried to make Riley and her friends pay to get in. She remembers her friends looking for cash and her telling them they didn’t actually have to pay, and she thought I was annoying. Fair. I probably was. It’s still funny that it came full circle. As our relationship grew, we found our routine. We love playing pickleball, watching Ted Lasso, and walking Rocky, our dog. One of my favorite memories is the day we randomly decided, spur of the moment, to go get Rocky. It was so us and it ended up being one of the best decisions we’ve made. Some other standout moments for me were the first time Riley stayed at my house and really got to know my family, meeting her whole family at her sister’s wedding, and going to so many date parties together. It’s been a lot of fun, but more than that, it’s been steady. It’s felt natural. The kind of relationship that makes life better day to day. On September 20, 2025, in Birmingham, I proposed to Riley after we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Luca Lagotto. After that, we got to celebrate with all our family and friends, which made the night even better. We’re so excited for y’all to join us August 8th in Birmingham and be part of this day with us. We really are grateful for the people who have supported us and been part of our lives, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone we love. -Dean